deadheadinG 99
taking care not to damage any of the new buds. When no more new buds are
visible in the bud cluster, the entire flowering stem should be cut off at the base
(see the Encyclopedia of Plants for more details).
Deadhead to the ground
Perennials with a single bare flower stem (sometimes with a few small insignifi-
cant leaves on the stem) should have their stem cut off close to the ground at the
base of the plant when all flowering is finished. Heuchera, hosta, and kniphofia
are examples of plants with this type of flowering.
The renowned author, lecturer, and perennial gardener Elsa Bakalar taught
me that some plants, like lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) and certain geraniums,
which would normally be deadheaded to the ground or to basal foliage, can also
be deadheaded by pulling the old flowering stems out of the plant, right to the
root. This way, these otherwise wide-growing plants can be kept in bounds and
even thinned in the process. Pulled stems often have roots on them that will take
if replanted.
Deadheading for perennials
with a single bare flower stem,
perhaps with a few small leaves
on the stem, here showing
Heuchera sanguinea.An alternative method of
deadheading for
wide-spreading mounded
plants, here showing Alchemilla
mollis. Twist and
pull out the old flowering stem
right down to the root.